#### 18.14.5 Comparing HHW settings for stand-alone vs. merged CHMs

You might have to experiment with HTML Help Workshop settings to achieve the best combination of functionality and features for your particular project organization and content. HTML Help appears to be “surprisingly complex and not overly predictable”.

For example, a binary TOC is not usually compatible with merged CHM files. However, see:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa814522(VS.85).aspx

Table 18-2 shows the rationale for certain combinations of settings for three CHM roles.

Table 18-2 Rationale for HHW settings by CHM role

CHM role | HTML Help Workshop settings and their effects
Stand-alone CHM files | [OPTIONS]Binary index=No (for “better index disambiguation”)
[OPTIONS]Binary TOC=Yes (required for native HTML Help browse navigation; see §18.4.3 Adding tabs and toolbar buttons to HTML Help)
Options Files tab: remove .hhk file (to synchronize the TOC with the index when Binary TOC is enabled)
Window Types Buttons tab: check Prev and Next (for native HTML Help browse navigation)
Slave CHM files in a merged HTML Help project | [OPTIONS]Binary index=Yes (required for merged files)
[OPTIONS]Binary TOC=No (not compatible with merged files; however, you might successfully merge slaves that have Binary TOCs, if you sacrifice correct native browse navigation)
Options Files tab: retain .hhk file (or the indexes will not merge)
Window Types Buttons tab: clear Prev and Next check boxes (native HTML Help browse navigation does not function correctly in merged files)
Master CHM file in a merged HTML Help project | [OPTIONS]Binary index=Yes (required for merged files)
[OPTIONS]Binary TOC=No (or the TOC of the merged project will be a mess)
Options Files tab: retain .hhk file (or the index will not merge)
Window Types Buttons tab: clear Prev and Next check boxes (native HTML Help browse navigation does not function correctly in merged files)

Table 18-3 summarizes the settings that should work for stand-alone HTML Help projects and for merged projects.

Table 18-3 HTML Help Workshop settings for stand-alone vs. merged CHMs

HTML Help Workshop setting | Stand-alone CHM | Merged CHMs
[OPTIONS] Binary TOC= | Yes | No
[OPTIONS] Binary Index= | No | Yes
Options: Files tab, Index | Remove .hhk | Retain .hhk
Window Types: Buttons tab | Check Prev and Next | Clear Prev and Next

See also:

§18.14.4 Merging CHM files

http://www.helpware.net/htmlhelp/how_to_merge.htm

http://www.helpware.net/FAR/help/dlg_hhpedit_sec.htm

http://www.help-info.de/de/FAR/dlg_hhpedit.htm

Previous Topic: 18.14.4 Merging CHM files

Next Topic: 19. Generating OmniHelp

Parent Topic: 18.14 Mapping and merging CHM files

Sibling Topics:

18.14.1 Interlinking multiple CHM files

18.14.2 Synchronizing TOC references to slave CHM files

18.14.3 Putting up with a binary index for merged CHM files

18.14.4 Merging CHM files